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Scientists use brain scans to unlock secrets of alcohol cravings

NCT ID NCT04067765

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: McMaster University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study used brain imaging (fMRI) to see how heavy drinkers' brains respond to pictures of alcohol versus non-alcoholic drinks. 72 non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers made hypothetical decisions about buying alcohol at different prices while in the scanner. The goal was to understand how alcohol-related cues change the perceived value of drinking, which could inform future addiction treatments.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If successful, this research could help develop better behavioral therapies for alcohol use disorder by understanding how the brain responds to alcohol cues.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed observational study with 72 participants, not a treatment trial. Results may not apply to all heavy drinkers or lead directly to new therapies.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

72 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jan 2020

Finished

Dec 2023

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

21 to 55 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 21-55 years old; * Right-handed; * Fluent English speaker; * Heavy drinker (i.e., on average \> 14/7 drinks per week for males/females in past three months; * Average of 1 heavy drinking episode weekly (heavy drinking episode = 5+/4+ for males/females) over past three months Exclusion Criteria: * Currently receiving treatment, or seeking treatment, for alcohol related problems; * Current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) substance use disorder other than alcohol or tobacco; * Weekly or more frequent use of recreational drugs; * History of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or PTSD; * History of neurocognitive disorder or impairment; * MRI contraindications (e.g., metal in body, history of seizure, etc.); * History of serious brain injury; * Currently taking psychotropic medications or medications that could affect cerebral blood flow; * Pregnancy (females); * Attending any study session with a positive breath alcohol concentration (BrAC \> 0.00g%)

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

alcohol abuse Alcohol Drinking

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Alcohol drinking Alcohol use disorder

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8N3K7, Canada

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.